Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology

All Rights Reserved Euresian Publication © 2012 eISSN 2249 0256

Available Online at: www.environmentaljournal.org

Volume 2, Issue 5: 456-457

Open Access Short Communication

456

Guptha et al.

New Locality Record of Brown Vine Snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta in Seshachalam

Biosphere Reserve, Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India

Bubesh Guptha M1*

, Chalapathi Rao P V 1, Sivaram Prasad N V

1.

and Madhu Babu P 1

1Bio-Lab of Seshachalam, Wildlife Management Circle, Tirupati, 517 507, Andhra Pradesh, India

*Corresponding author: bubesh.guptha@gmail.com

Abstract: Brown vine snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta is a very uncommon species which was known to occur in India

along the Western Ghats from Gujarat to Kerala, Tamil Nadu in Alagarkoil Hills and Sundarbans. Totally 42

field days were spent to rapidly assess the Herpetofauna during August 2011 to June 2012 with the objective

to determine the present distribution and presence of the herpetofauna species. Data collection will be

carried out by using Visual Encounter Survey Method. We report sighting Brown vine snake Ahaetulla

pulverulenta in Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh on 9th

June 2012 arround 1130 hrs during our field survey. .

We found the snake near the Cottage (ANC 437) close to Tirumala temple. With the addition of Brown vine

snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta, the number reaches 42. Also everyone should realise that the protection of

habitat is an important aspect in conservation of such species.

Key words: New Locality Record, Ahaetulla pulverulenta, Seshachalam Hills, Andhra Pradesh

1.0 Introduction: Brown vine snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta is a very

uncommon species which was known to occur in

India along the Western Ghats from Gujarat to

Kerala, Tamil Nadu in Alagarkoil Hills (Whitaker and

Captain, 2004), Sri Lanka (Somaweera, 2006) and

Sundarbans (Gertrud and Helmut, 2010). This species

is characterised by thin, dark brown rhomboidal

mark on top of the head with a brown stripe passing

through the eye on side of the head. Its eye is large,

transversely oval with horizontal pupil. The head is

extremely pointed with enlarged nose tip.

Seshachalam Hills, the first Biosphere Reserve in

Andhra Pradesh, located in southern Eastern Ghats

of Chittoor and Kadapa districts. It is spread over

4755.99 Km2. The vegetation is a unique mix of the

tropical southern dry mixed deciduous types. The

elevation ranges from 150 to 1,130 m, the terrain is

undulating, with deep forest-covered valleys.

The reserve is home to 11 endemic plant species,

mostly Cycas beddomei, Pterocarpus santalinus,

Terminalia pallida, Syzygium alternifolium, Shorea

tambaggia Boswellia ovalifoliolata etc. It is the

richest floristic hot spot harboring many endemic

and rare plants. The entire sanctuary is an

uninhabited large chunk of dry deciduous Red

Sanders bearing forest, forming catchments to

Swarnamukhi and Penna rivers, both in Chittoor and

Kadapa districts.

Figure 1: Distribution map for Ahaetulla pulverulenta

in India (after Whitaker and Captain, 2004), Sri Lanka

(Somaweera, 2006) and Sundarbans (Gertrud and

Helmut, 2010), with an yellow spot indicating the

new record for Seshachalam Hills, Andhra Pradesh

2.0 Methodology: Totally 42 field days were spent to rapidly assess the

Herpetofauna during August 2011 to June 2012 with

the objective to determine the present distribution

and presence of the herpetofauna species. Data

Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology

457

Guptha et al.

collection will be carried out by using Visual

Encounter Survey Method. The sanctuary area was

different zones like, Road, water bodies, scrub jungle

and tank bund, each zone was randomly explored on

the basis of habitat structure and, possibility and

availability of the herpetofauna species.

Figure 2: Brown vine snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta

3.0 Observations: With this background, we report sighting Brown vine

snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta in Tirumala Hills,

Andhra Pradesh on 9th

June 2012 arround 1130 hrs

during our field survey. Tirumala hills are popularly

known as the seven hills of Lord Sri Venkateswara.

We found the snake near the Cottage (ANC 437)

close to Tirumala temple, (13o40’N & 79

o21’E)

Chitoor district, Andhra Pradesh (Fig. 1 & 2). The

specimens were identified based on descriptions

available in the literature (Whitaker & Captain,

2004).

Status: Uncommon. Species and listed as Lower Risk-

near threatened (Molur & Walker, 1998).The number

of snake species known from Andhra Pradesh is 41

(Sanyal et al, 1993; Daniel, 2002; Whitaker &

Captain, 2004; Rao et al, 2005; Srinivasulu & Das,

2008; Guptha et al, 2012). With the addition of

Brown vine snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta, the

number reaches 42.

4.0 Recommendation: Record of Brown vine snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta

in Seshachalam Hills shows our incomplete

understanding on the distribution of fauna. We

recommend that further studies be carried out in the

Eastern Ghats and its surrounding areas at the

earliest possible opportunity to confirm the presence

of many such new species. Also everyone should

realise that the protection of habitat is an important

aspect in conservation of such species.

5.0 Acknowledgements: The authors are very much thankful to Sri A.V.

Joseph, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and

Chief Wildlife Warden, Andhra Pradesh for their co-

operation and permission. Special thanks to Sri

D.Baskar Naidu, Forest Maistry TTD for giving

information about the presence of the snake.

Athorus also thankful to Sri Sahadeva Kethari, for

providing the photograph. Finally, we would like to

thank Mrs. Vamsee Priya for her valuable comments

and suggestions in this paper.

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and Amphibians. Bombay Natural History

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2) Gertrud N.D. and D. Helmut (2010). The Brown

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